HMS Seawolf

by Michael Aye

  “You have my word,” Dagan replied solemnly. “We will protect ourselves if we have to but otherwise we’ll avoid trouble when we can.”

  “Fair enough,” Marion stated, “Wait here till you hear from my messenger.”

  In less than an hour, a man approached Dagan’s group as they sat around a table at the tavern where Marion had left them. He was dressed in buckskin britches, a homespun Woolsey shirt and an ill-fitting crimson jacket that bore a silver crescent, the mark of South Carolina’s second regiment.

  In a low voice the man spoke, “You the Britishers?”

  When Dagan nodded his answer the man said, “Colonel Marion sent me to guide you to fetch your kin and keep you outta trouble whilst we’s about it. Name’s Rud.”

  “How shall we travel?” Dagan inquired.

  “It’d be quicker to take a boat,” the man said, “But that’d attract more attention to us so’s we’ll go overland but stay off the main road. The colonel gave me a pass in case we get stopped and questioned. But, he reckons it best we try to avoid any ‘sojers’ if possible.”

  “How long will it take?” Dagan asked as the rest of the group remained silent.

  “Pends on if you can keep up,” Rud answered. He had noted Caleb favoring his leg. “Day, maybe two.”

  Finishing his tankard of ale, Caleb stood and stepped around the table. “When can we leave?” he asked.

  “Quick as you get your plunder together,” Rud replied, “There’s still enough light left we can make our way outta the city and have a good jump on the morrow.”

  Chapter Nine

  Someone was screaming. Screams intermingled with cries and loud sobs. As Gabe tried to clear the fog from his brain he could hear the cries. They were muffled but close by, women—the cries were women— and seemed to be coming beyond the wall where Gabe had been laying. As he reached to touch the back of his head he felt a weight tugging at his arms. He was manacled. A chain went from wrist to wrist, then another was around his waist and still another attached the chains shackling his arms to the one around his waist. The chain around his waist had a tail and was attached to something. It was dark in his prison so Gabe on his knees followed the length of chain to a wall. About three feet off the hardwood floor he found the chain was attached to a large ring bolt. Not unlike that on a slaver they’d taken as a prize last year.

  Next to the wall the sounds from the next room were much clearer. Now there was a mixture of sounds. In addition to the cries and whimpers of women there was also the laugh of men. Right away he recognized the voice of Montique and Hindley. Hindley was addressing his boss.

  “Can the men have a turn now, Mr. Montique?”

  A slight pause then Montique answered, “Tomorrow night, but tell that bull Smith if I lose another from his sodomizing he’ll pay. The dey of Algiers doesn’t take it kindly when his merchandise can’t hold their bowels.”

  “I’ll warn him, sir. I’ll threaten to take the cost of the wench from his pay.”

  “And I’ll have the hide off his back as well,” Montique said.

  As the two men stepped out of the prison where the captive women were kept, Montique could see Faith sitting on the top step of the plantation house. She had her legs drawn up to her chest with her chin on her knees.

  “Has she come around yet?” Hindley inquired.

  “No, not yet, and I’m losing patience,” Montique answered. “If she’s not willing by the time I return from Charlestown I may send her on a trip to Algiers. I could get more for her than the whole group we got penned up.”

  “Should I help persuade her some,” Hindley asked, hoping to have his way with Faith. He’d seen her in the low cut dresses acting so innocent. He’d also seen her naked. He had climbed the oak tree and laid on a limb until Nanny had the tub fixed and Faith undressed as he watched. She was ripe and he was ready to pick the fruit.

  Montique had come to a stop and appeared to be considering Hindley’s suggestion, “No, not yet. Keep an eye on her. Give her free rein, but watch her closely. If she don’t want me when I get back, Ali Dey can have her. Let’s see how she likes ‘The Dey’s keeper of the honey’ watching over her night and day. The big eunuch stands with his arms crossed and a great scimitar in his hand guarding the only entrance to the harem’s quarters.”

  Montique seemed to be thinking aloud as he continued speaking, “A beautiful blonde is worth a lot, but a beautiful blonde virgin is priceless.” Shaking his head, Montique appeared to have made up his mind. “No, don’t touch her Hindley…keep your eye on her, but don’t touch her.” These last words were filled with menace.

  As they parted in different directions it started to drizzle, then the rain came harder. Damn, thought Montique, it will be a slow muddy trip to Charlestown.

  ***

  Gabe awoke with a start. In spite of the cool damp air he was sweating. He had been dreaming of the explosion on Turtle. The sudden blast that sent him cart-wheeling into the air as the vessel became a roaring inferno. High through the air Gabe had been hurled, still clutching the Turtle’s captain. The air burned his lungs as sheets of flames seemed to reach out for him. At some point he turned lose of the burning corpse that seconds before had been a man. Then down, down he plunged into the muddy darkness of the trough where the remains of Turtle filled the sky with fiery orange debris.

  Gabe wiped his face with a grubby sleeve. He smelled the marsh. He could not yet see about him so it was still early but he knew his prison was close to the marsh. He could smell it and it brought back memories of his childhood. His father would take him hunting wildfowl on the marshes that lay along the Thames. It was one of the few times Father had seemed completely relaxed. He was just Father on the hunting trips, not Admiral Lord James Anthony. It had been the two of them…Dagan, and his father’s servant.

  Memories…A shackled prisoner…would he live long enough to have further memories? He would like to have a life full of memories built around Faith. He suddenly realized he was deeply in love. He’d like to share life with Faith. She could bare him a son and he could take his son hunting in the marshes as his own father had done.

  ***

  “Shh…,” Rud held his fingers to his lips. The group of men was in a thicket just off the main road. Limbs from the great oaks hung low; some even touched the ground. Moss hung from the limbs and old acorns crunched under their feet as they made their way as silently as possible.

  At Rud’s warning, they had squatted down to be even less visible. A coach was approaching on the road. The sound of the horses’ hooves on the road was clearer and then rounding a slight bend, the coach was visible. Two men sat on top, a driver and a servant both dressed in red livery. As the coach passed a great crest was emblazoned on the door and with the window shade up a man could be seen.

  “Montique,” Dagan hissed, “I knew it would be him.”

  “That’s the devil himself is it?” Rud asked.

  “Aye, that’s him. Well, maybe things will go better with him away.”

  ***

  Light flooded the room as the door was opened. Two men stepped in, one with a musket and one with a plate of food and a cup of water.

  “You’s hungree?” the man carrying the food asked as he set it down on the floor. “I don’t know why we bother to feed ye anyhow. You’re a dead man soon as Mr. Montique returns.”

  “Mister Montique say’ iffen he see’s Captain Crawford he’s gona tell him he’s got the man what took ‘is ship and got his young’n in a British jail. It could be Captain Crawford might pay to put his hand on ya. Might use ya to barter foh his kid or he might jus kill you his ownself.”

  Then laughing the two turned to leave. Wanting to get a better look at his surroundings Gabe called out, “I have to go.”

  “What?” the man with the musket called.

  “I have to go,” Gabe repeated. “Nature calls.”

  “Well shit in your pants then sit in it,” the other man replied cruelly.

  “If
I do I’m sure it will be you who has to clean up after I’m dead.”

  The man holding the rifle snickered, his rotten teeth showing. “He’s right, Luther. Smith will sure put you to cleaning up the mess.”

  “Ah right! Hold that gun on him and if he so much as flinches you part his hair with a bullet right where that gray streak be.”

  Outside Gabe could see he was being kept in a warehouse that indeed was almost at the river’s edge. He could see a boardwalk and what appeared to be a dock. That was probably where stolen goods were brought in and out. Attached to the side of the warehouse was a smaller building. Bars filled the windows and young ladies peered out as he passed. Luther saw him looking and snatched on his chain causing Gabe to stumble.

  Laughing at Gabe, Luther said, “Lookers ain’t they? To bad you can’t have any but if you beg I’ll ask Smith if he’ll let you watch as we has our pleasure. That will be just afore Mr. Montique takes his pleasure in kill’n you.”

  Look as he may Gabe could find nothing that would aid in his escape. He’d hoped to get a glimpse of Faith but that was not to be. Once back in the warehouse the sun was starting to shine through high windows and cracks between the wall boards. The warehouse was full. Barrels labeled rum were stacked against the rear wall to one side and several cannons filled the other side.

  Boxes labeled muskets were stacked as high as a man’s head. There were also boxes labeled shoes, shirts, blankets, and britches. Powder kegs were stacked, more boxes labeled bullets, buckshot, nails and one small box labeled stockings. Sail canvas was stacked, and down the middle, ship’s spars were stored.

  Turning, Gabe focused on top of the barrel next to him, a lanthorn. Luther had been careless and left the lanthorn he’d used to see with when he unlocked Gabe’s chain. It was sitting on a barrel. It was no longer lit but it was there. If he couldn’t escape Gabe thought at least he might be able to light the lanthorn and destroy the warehouse. At least he’d die with the knowledge Montique wouldn’t be able to use his ill-gotten goods.

  Gabe slumped down against the wall feeling the rough wall scratch at his back as he did so. The pain suddenly made him feel desolate. In his despair he hung his head. Dagan, where are you? Gil, Faith, Dagan. They all filled his mind and for the first time in a long time Gabe found himself reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

  ***

  Rud, Dagan, and the group arrived at the plantation just before dusk, skirting their way through an oak thicket trying to keep out of everyone’s sight including the slaves. As they stopped at the last line of oaks before a large clearing they were able to take in most of the plantation. A row of shotgun houses built close together were obviously the slave quarters.

  The glow of candles was noted in a few open windows. It was easy to pick out the stables, a foundry indicated the blacksmith shop and another outbuilding looked like a sawmill. As darkness overtook the dusk the woods seem to come alive. Lightening bugs flashed their momentary glow, and mosquitoes buzzed about. It seemed all the insects decided to sing at once.

  Next to the slave quarters a loud shout sounded and then a dog howled mournfully, followed by half a dozen more dogs starting to howl. At this point, someone stamped hard on the porch and another shout, and then a sudden yelp and the dogs were quiet.

  “Smell the marsh?” Jubal asked.

  “Aye lad, you couldn’t miss it,” Dagan answered.

  “Look there,” Rud was pointing to a large building. One man was holding a lanthorn in one hand and a gun in the other. Another man was unlocking a door.

  Dagan suddenly rose from where he had been crouching and took a half step out of the shadows. “Gabe is there,” he spoke to no one in particular.

  Kawliga moved up next to Dagan. “Man there, colonneh?”

  “Aye,” Dagan answered and turned back toward the thicket only to come to a dead stop as Kawliga whispered, “Women too.”

  “Women?” Dagan was surprised and turned back toward the buildings. Sure enough, after listening closely voices were heard and then in the lamplight a woman appeared looking out between the bars of the jail. Then gazing further he could see a woman and a black man, probably a slave, coming down the steps of the plantation house. Stepping back into the thicket, he passed on his and Kawliga’s findings.

  “Rud, I gave my word to Colonel Marion not to spy and only protect myself as needed. Now it looks like it’s time for a bit of action. I came to get Gabe, but it looks like Montique is more than a pirate. It appears he’s a slaver as well, black and white. If you wish to go back now give my respects to the colonel. If you stay…well things could get bloody.”

  Without hesitating Rud answered, “I’ll stay. I don’t like no white women being mistreated.”

  “Good enough,” Dagan said but mentally decided to keep Caleb close by. He knew his metal. “Jubal!”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I want you and Kawliga to go back and skirt around the edge of the clearing and see if those boards yonder by the big building lead to a dock or a boat. If there is a boat large enough for all of us and several women take control of it. If not work your way back and stop us before we head down the boardwalk. Don’t take chances. Understand…don’t take any chances.”

  Looking at Kawliga, the Indian nodded then the two were off. Dagan then ask Caleb, “You ready?”

  “As ever.”

  “The leg?”

  “It’s fine, lets be at it.”

  Turning to Rud, Dagan placed his hands on the man’s shoulder. “You’re the woodsman, lead on.”

  ***

  Gabe was not sure why, but he felt better. He’d drifted off to sleep after his prayer and awoke at the rattle of chains at the door. Luther and rotten teeth were back. “Eat your grub and in an hour or so you can listen as we has ourselves a shindig. Smith will have the women squealing like pigs. You can’t have no cunny but you can listen.”

  Gabe ate the offered stew and biscuit and was quite surprised at how good it was. Whoever the cook was knew their way around a stove. About the time Gabe finished he heard voices outside arguing.

  One was Luther’s, the other a female…Faith, it was Faith. Then the arguing came to a halt and the door opened. Luther spoke once more, “Mr. Hindley’s gone and you know it, but soon as he gets back we’s gona fetch him. You know Mr. Montique don’t allow you down here where the prisoners are.” Then he pushed the door shut and left.

  He had the keys to the chain locks so there was no chance in the man escaping. Therefore, he let Faith have her way. He knew it wasn’t right but he wasn’t about to physically stop her, not yet he wasn’t. Not that he hadn’t dreamed of touching her, but unless Hindley said to he wouldn’t touch a hair on her head, no sir, nary a hair.

  Once in the warehouse, Lum handed the lanthorn to Faith and sat down in the shadows of the opposite corner away from Gabe and Faith. They shouldn’t be here at all but with him along maybe Hindley’s white trash guards would think twice before touching the girl, Lum thought.

  Faith lifted the lanthorn and as she did Gabe stood up. Seeing Gabe, Faith rushed to him setting the lanthorn on top of a barrel that was close by.

  “Oh Gabe, I was so afraid they’d hurt you. My uncle, how could he do such evil things? Oh Gabe.”

  Gabe could smell Faith’s fresh washed hair, the faint scent of her perfume, the woman smell. After the damp musty odor of the warehouse it was like heaven. He reached for her and she came to him. This time she kissed him long and hard, not like the sudden fleeting pecks she’d given when he’d been laid up in Lum’s cabin. She crushed her body into Gabes, kissing, hugging, and weeping all at the same time. He could feel her breast, her heartbeat, the smoothness of her skin.

  After a long breath, she broke away and gasped, “I love you, God Gabe, I don’t know when or how, but I love you. I’ve got to get you out of here. I’ll confront Uncle Adam and if he doesn’t turn you loose I’ll go get help.”

  How naïve , Gabe thought. How young, innocent and naïve. All his lon
eliness was forgotten with just her kiss. “I love you too,” he stammered, “I want you…I want you to be my wife.”

  “Gabe, oh Gabe, God yes, lets get you out of here now.”

  “Hold on to ya horse now missy.”

  “Hindley!”

  “At your service, madam.”

  “Turn him loose.”

  “Afraid I can’t missy. The master seem’s to have his sights set on a special death for that `un. A painful drawn out death, I’m bettin’. However, if you was to be kindly I could put it to him so as he’d die right away. That way they’d be no suffering. Say he was trying to escape.”

  “Go to hell, Hindley.”

  “What! The she-cat is snarling a bit is she?” Then Hindley sneered, “Lets see if you can do anything but snarl.”

  Reaching out he grasped her top and fiercely ripped it away, exposing her breasts. Gabe lunged at the man but the chains brought him up short. Grabbing a length of trace chain, Hindley swung at Gabe. The chains cut a gash along his cheek. Faith kicked Hindley who whirled and grabbed Faith bodily and hurled her to the floor.

  As Gabe reached out attempting to help again, Hindley kicked him savagely in the stomach before turning his attention back to Faith. The urge to jump up on her feet and run was almost overpowering, but Faith couldn’t leave Gabe. Hindley would surely kill him.

  “Uncle Adam will have your back flayed for this you bastard,” Faith spat at her tormentor.

  “He will surely try she-cat so I better enjoy what I can before he returns.” Hindley then took a step toward Faith and she slapped him. Enraged, he snatched her to him and gave a ringing slap to her face.

  “What you need, little she-cat, is a taming, and I aim to give it to you starting now.” Hindley then forced Faith back and down over a wooden table. His fingers dug into her soft breasts, bruising them as he did so. He tore at her skirt and pulled it up over her knees, enjoying the feel of the soft flesh of her upper thighs.